Physics & mathematics news, features and articles

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Scientists turn light into a 'supersolid' for the 1st time ever: What that means, and why it matters For the first time, researchers transformed light into a quantum crystalline structure to create a "supersolid" that's both solid and liquid at the same time. Here’s what that means, and why it's such a big step forward.
An illustration of a rippling wave passing through a grid of galaxies
Black hole paradox that stumped Stephen Hawking may have a solution, new paper claims As black holes slowly vanish through Hawking radiation, their information may be preserved in subtle space-time ripples, a new theory suggests.
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14-year-old known as 'the human calculator' breaks 6 math world records in 1 day Indian teenager Aaryan Shulka performs calculations in his head quicker than most people can use a calculator. At a recent event hosted by Guinness World Records, 14-year-old Shulka shattered six mental math records in one day.

Latest about Physics & Mathematics

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Cosmic voids may explain the universe's acceleration without dark energy

By Andrey Feldman published

New research suggests that dark energy isn't needed to explain the acceleration in the expansion of the universe — instead suggesting giant voids in space are creating an illusion.

Dark Energy
To test how important imaginary numbers were in describing reality, the researchers used an updated version of the Bell test, an experiment which relies on quantum entanglement.

'Spooky' quantum entanglement discovered inside individual protons for 1st time ever

By Ben Turner published

Physicists have long-suspected that the building blocks of protons experienced quantum entanglement. Now, researchers have the first direct evidence — after using a trick to infer subatomic particles' entropy.

Particle Physics
This illustration shows Earth surrounded by filaments of dark matter called "hairs"

Something invisible and 'fuzzy' may lurk at the Milky Way's center, new research suggests

By Paul Sutter published

The cores of galaxies may not be made of what we thought, new research suggests — they could hold one giant, invisible star made of mysterious "fuzzy" matter.

Dark Matter
An illustration of particles traveling through space

'The Majoron' — a bizarre particle that's its own opposite — could explain the biggest mysteries of the universe, scientists claim

By Paul Sutter published

There's a significant imbalance between matter and antimatter in our universe, but a strange particle called "the Majoron" could finally explain it, an audacious new study suggests.

Particle Physics
A man stands inside a large room with a golden grid on the floor, walls, and ceiling

800-mile-long 'DUNE' experiment could reveal the hidden dimensions of the universe

By Andrey Feldman published

A new underground facility called DUNE, which will accelerate particles for 800 miles between Illinois and South Dakota, could reveal the hidden dimensions of the universe, new research suggests.

Particle Physics
a man stands in front of a spinning vortex of light

Physicist claims to have solved the infamous 'grandfather paradox,' making time travel (theoretically) possible

By Andrey Feldman published

The grandfather paradox is just one of the thorny logical problems that arise with the concept of time travel. But one physicist says he has resolved them.

Physics & Mathematics
An illustration shows the creation of antihyperhydrogen-4 in a collision between two nulcei of lead.

Large Hadron Collider finds 1st evidence of the heaviest antimatter particle yet

By Robert Lea published

Scientists at CERN's ALICE detector are replicating conditions found during the Big Bang, attempting to get to the bottom of how matter came to dominate over antimatter.

Particle Physics
a psychedelic-style illustration of two hands touching while holding an abstract orb

Do atoms ever touch?

By Sarah Wells published

Atoms make up everything around us, but do these building blocks of matter ever actually touch?

Physics & Mathematics
an illustration of many colorful monkeys typing on typewriters

Could monkeys really type the complete works of Shakespeare?

By Marilyn Perkins published

The infinite monkey theorem is a fun thought experiment, but does it actually apply to our finite world?

Mathematics
A top-down view of a sofa squeezing around an L-shaped hallway

Infamous 'sofa problem' that boggled mathematicians for decades may finally have a solution

By Stephanie Pappas published

A math problem delineating the largest-size sofa that can fit around a corner has finally been solved, though it may not help you move.

Mathematics
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